Improvement in folding tables



2 Sheets--Sheet1.

a. H. WILLIAMS.

Folding-Table.

Patented May 25,1875.-

70m )fl 0 a v Mar/w 2Sheets--Sheet2. G. H. WILLIAMS.

Z Y/ &H E 1 THE GRAPHIC C0.FHOTO -LITH.39 E41 PARK PLACLNvl UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIca.

GEORGE H. WILLIAMS, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

,llVlPROVEM ENT IN FOLDING TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 163,833, dated May 25, 1875; application filed April 7, 1875. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. WILLIAMs, of Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved table inverted, with the legs in an upright position. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with the legs folded in a horizontal position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line or w of Fig. 2. My invention consists in atable provided with pivoted legs, which are secured in an up right position, when required for use, by slotted spring-braces, the legs, when folded, being retained in a horizontal position upon the under side of the table by the pressure of the spring-braces, which, at the same time, automatically close, so as to occupy but little space, the parts, when in this position, admitting of the table being snugly packed for transportation. My invention also consists in connecting the pivoted legs by cross-bars placed at such points that when the table is in use sufficient space will be afforded for the unobstructed movement of a large drawer extending longitudinally thereunder, the cross-bars, when the legs are folded, serving to securely retain the drawer in place and prevent it from accidentally sliding out when the table is being moved.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A represents the top of the table, to the under side of which are secured four cleats, a a b b, between which are placed the legs B B O 0, connected in pairs by cross-bars 0 cl. From the inner side of each of these cleats projects a stud, e, which fits into a bushing, h, set into a recess formed in the outer side of the contiguous leg. To the under side of the table are secured the inner ends of four braces, i i k k, of spring metal, of the form seen, each brace being twisted, so

that its inner portion will be situated in a plane at or nearly at right angles with its outer portion, which is provided with a longitudinal slot, l, through which passes a screw or pin, m, projecting from the outer side of the 0011- tiguous leg, the length of the slot and the position of the screw or pin being such as to prevent the leg from being thrown over beyond the vertical, which, owing to the line of the top of the leg being square, would loosen or pry off its cleat. Each leg is locked firmly in its upright position by its pin or screw m entering and bearing against the side of the angular portion 5 of the slot lof its spring-brace and when it is desired tovfold the legs upon the under side of the table it is simply necessary to press the spring-braces so as to move the angular portions 5 of-the slots 1 out of contact with the screws 1n, when the legs can be swung on their pivots into the position seen in Fig. 2, the screws m moving in the slots 6,

and the braces at the same time automatically approaching the under side of the table, so as to be out of the way'when the legs are folded, as seen in Fig. 3, in which position they are retained by the spring pressure of the braces until moved by the hand, when it is again desired to set up the table. Secured to the under side of the top of the table are two longitudinal strips, D D, parallel to each other, and provided with grooves n a, in which slide tongues at the upper. edges of a drawer, G, which, when the legs are in an upright position, (Fig. 1,) is free to be drawn out between the under side of the table and the cross-bars c d, sufficient space being allowed for this to be done without the drawer being obstructed by them. When the legs are folded, as seen in Fig. 2, the cross-bars rest snugly in recesses formed in the under side of the strips D D,

the drawer being confined by the cross-bars,

so that it cannot accidentally slide out when the table is being moved, the foregoing construction admitting of the employment of a larger drawer than would otherwise be possible. In order to admit of the folding of the legs upon the under side of the table, the cleats a a are placed to one side of or out of line with the cleats b 11, thus allowing the legs to lie flatly side by side without coming into contact with each other.

(hat I claim as my invention, and desire arranged so as to confine it in place when the to secure by Letters Patent, is legs are folded, substantially as set forth.

1. The slotted spring-braces i 70 in combina Vitness my hand this 1st day of April, 1875. tion with the pivoted legs of a table, constructed to operate substantially as described. WILLIAMS 2. The pivoted legs B U, with their eross- In presence of bars 0 d, in combination with the longitndi- J N0. L. VAN VALKENBURGH,

nally-sliding drawer G, the cross-bars being WM. G. JANES. 

